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Heartbeat Bill Highlights Split

A bill that would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected would be the most restrictive ban on abortion in the country, and it could come out of an Ohio House committee tomorrow/today (if airing on Weds morning). But as Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports, the bill highlights a big split in the anti-abortion community.

The so-called “Heartbeat Bill”, which has more than 50 sponsors in the House, has been in committee for several weeks. Sponsoring Rep. Lynn Wachtmann of northwest Ohio also chairs the committee hearing the bill, and he says it’s moving slowly because he’s running thorough hearings.
“There’s some nervousness among the crowd, when you have Ohio Right to Life out working against your legislation. It’s very unfortunate. They’re wrong and we’re right.”

But Ohio Right to Life’s executive director Mike Gonadakis says there’s a simple reason his board of trustees isn’t supporting the bill.
“House Bill 125 has major legal flaws. It’s going to lead to increased, not decreased abortions in the state of Ohio.”

Ohio Right to Life is backing a measure that would ban abortions after viability, and it’s moved out of committee. But pro-choice activists continue to oppose both these bills.

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